Harm
Dr. Niyati Arora (prosthodontist) at Krown Hub Dental Clinic (Pitampura, Delhi, India), explains that vomit consists of undigested food along with acids produced by our stomachs. Produced to help digest food.
This makes it acidic. When we vomit, the mouth and throat become acidic. This acidic environment will weaken tooth enamel because of the mineralized external structure of the tooth.
If we brush our teeth at this time, one thing that can happen is that the tooth enamel is easily worn away because it is already in a weak state and we will rub the acid in the mouth on all the teeth, causing many surfaces to teeth are exposed to strong acids and make the situation worse.
Sharing the same opinion, Dr. Nisha Thakkar, cosmetic dentist at Dr Karishma Aesthetics Dental Clinic (Bangalore, India) further informed that tooth enamel is the calcium layer that covers the tooth surface. It can be worn away by acids. So after vomiting, you should ideally wait for the acidic pH to return to neutral, which usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Role of saliva
Not everyone knows this, but saliva has many functions in the body. Dr. Thakkar said, saliva has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects that coat the tooth surface. It helps digestion and mineralization; Saliva also contains a buffer system responsible for maintaining acid-base balance in the teeth and mouth.
Ms. Thakkar affirmed: “The most important role is bicarbonate buffering. This buffer maintains the pH of saliva between 5.7 and 6.2. There is no specific process to increase saliva production in the mouth but drinking water, moisturizing lips and breathing through the nose are some ways to maintain saliva production.”
Since you shouldn't brush your teeth right after vomiting, she advises there are certain things we can do to neutralize the negative effects of the acid. These include: rinsing your mouth with regular drinking water, consuming dairy products and more green vegetables which can help balance saliva and control acidity.
